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To the editor:
Many recent letters and online comments have discussed how the Democratic Party was once embraced by working-class Americans. For three decades from 1949 to 1979, Democrats held Senate and House majorities in all but two years. The reason for this loyalty among our parents and grandparents is easy to understand; they witnessed the damage wrought by Republican laissez-faire policies.
My mom and dad never forgot the Great Depression. The hardships it imposed defined their lives. Those who lived through those difficult times were also extremely grateful for a government that proactively worked on their behalf. Unfortunately, only one generation later, baby boomers abandoned the course set by their parents; boomers became selfish.
GOP promises of low taxes, easy money and ending “handouts to takers” resonated with boomers, ushering in the neo-conservative movement. All of the improvements our parents helped bring about — Social Security, Medicare, unionized labor, equal employment, civil rights, the social safety net — were suddenly viewed as harmful “Big Government” by their children.
The recent letters and comments have things backwards — Democrats didn’t abandon the working class, the working class abandoned Democrats. The damage is obvious; crushing debt, a polarized populace and the greatest wealth inequality in U.S. history.
It is undeniable that those who demographers call the “silent generation” were really America’s “greatest generation.” A fair case could be made that baby boomers are America’s “greediest generation.”
Joseph Cannisi
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0000
You’re mistaken about Baby Boomers, and labeling them greedy is another unacceptable flaw.
Baby Boomers left the Democratic Party due to dissatisfaction with its direction. They felt it had shifted too far to the left and failed to adequately represent their values.
We are the largest, wealthiest, most educated generation of Americans. We are the favored children of a strong, confident, and prosperous country. We were born between 1946 and 1964, and we had the privilege of experiencing the remarkable economic growth of the postwar era. This growth was made possible by our hard work and education.
We are lawyers, educators, doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians, and upper-level civil servants. "We accomplished this on our own merits, without any government intervention."We accomplished our achievements solely through our efforts, without any government interference.
We are proud of our accomplishments and contributions to the United States and its social service system.
Thursday, June 26 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, your comments only corroborate the points raised by the letter. Baby Boomers were the beneficiaries of the liberal policies OUR PARENTS put in place through their "hard work" and "remarkable economic growth of the post-war era".
Boomers are the indeed the largest, wealthiest, most educated group of Americans. Because they were the heirs to "a strong, confident, and prosperous country". Those achievements belong to OUR PARENTS!
By what right can Boomers lay claim to post-war economic growth? They can't. By what right can Boomers take credit for the education provided to them by their parents? They can't. In what way did Boomers help create America's social service system? They didn't. All of that and more was bequeathed to Boomers by the "silent generation".
We, Boomers squandered that legacy. And, yes Boomers abandoned the Democratic Party (from FDR to LBJ) that made it all possible. The values of Boomers shifted right; the Dems didn't shift left. All movement is relative.
Boomers are often called out for being ungrateful. True to form, your comments highlight that character flaw by claiming "We accomplished our achievements solely through our efforts, without any government interference".
"No one succeeds alone. No one" - Gary W. Keller, entrepreneur, author, Baby Boomer!
Thursday, June 26 Report this
0000
Baby Boomers were resolute in their pursuit of the American Dream through hard work and education, while simultaneously disdainful of government.
Why haven’t subsequent generations followed in their footsteps?
Boomers, the largest and wealthiest generation, have not squandered their legacy. Their contributions to society are truly praiseworthy. Driven by their ambition, Boomers have experienced the American Dream and have generously given back to society through charitable works and contributions to various charitable organizations.
The Democratic Party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and John F. Kennedy has become extinct, akin to dinosaurs.
Baby Boomers not only paid for their education but also earned college degrees based on their merit, rather than relying on affirmative action programs that favored less qualified individuals.
Baby Boomers didn’t squander the opportunities presented to them by the greatest country in the world; instead, they embraced them, unlike subsequent generations.
Boomers’ hard work and education exemplify the power of perseverance. Their achievements are notrworthy.
"It's neither about money nor connections--it's about the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone"-Mark Cuban.
Friday, June 27 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, I can only speak for myself, but I didn't pay a single penny to get a four-year degree from Hunter College. Many Boomers, like me, took full advantage of tuition-free CUNY colleges. Sadly, free tuition at CUNY ended in 1976.
As for merit, CUNY also had an Open Admissions policy that allowed anyone with a High School diploma entry into a CUNY school. That ended in 1999.
Boomers certainly worked hard, had ambition and sought out educational opportunities. However, they also had a lot of breaks that the prior and next generations never enjoyed including a pro-active government working on their behalf.
It may be good for our collective egos to think "we did it all by ourselves", but that simply is not true. We had help and a lot of that came from liberal government policies. Boomers were the meteor that killed those dinosaurs.
Friday, June 27 Report this
0000
When it comes to tuition, I didn’t receive free education at a CUNY college. Instead, I worked long hours and engaged in manual labor to pay for my higher education.
Regarding merit, my SAT score of 1300 secured my admission to the university of my choice.
While liberal government policies have their merits, it’s frustrating to see some individuals abuse the support provided. Many seem ungrateful for the safety net that the government offers, often complaining that it doesn’t meet their needs. This lack of gratitude is troubling. We must all understand that life has its challenges, and we must confront that reality head-on.
In terms of my personal achievements, I acknowledge the importance of humility. I’m grateful to God for His guidance throughout my life. It’s my faith that has sustained me through numerous hardships and given me the strength to face challenges with determination and acceptance. Giving up is simply not an option when confronted with difficulties.
In our discussions, it’s clear that we share more common ground than differences. This mutual understanding should foster respectful dialogue, wouldn’t you agree?
Saturday, June 28 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, I have tried to have a respectful dialogue with you. However, that became immediately difficult when faced with comments like this:
"Your letters are deplorable. You consistently use vile adjectives to describe President Trump and his supporters. You use the word “prejudice,” which means “racist!” I rest my case!
( If anyone should be ashamed, it is you. Your letters are filled with hyperbole and hatred. Shame on you!)
( Every time you write a racist and vile letter, I will proudly criticize it, Sherlock!)"
Especially, after I emphasized that I never used the terms "prejudice" or "racist". What I said was the SCOTUS is ideologically biased. I also objected to your use of the derogatory terms "illegal immigrants" and "illegal criminals". People are not illegal, actions are illegal. To me, that is an important difference.
Monday, June 30 Report this
0000
The letter, The Greediest Generation, posted Wednesday, 25 June 2025, posits that the Democrat Party, once embraced by working-class Americans, lost support from baby Boomers who allegedly favored GOP promises of low taxes and limited government. This shift allegedly led to current issues like wealth inequality, wrong!
How the Democratic Party lost the working class
The Democrats lost the working class due to a growing disconnect between the party's elite and the economic and cultural concerns of blue-collar workers, leading to a perception that the party no longer represents their interests. This shift was exacerbated by the party's focus on globalization and identity politics, which alienated many traditional supporters.
Wednesday, July 2 Report this
reenjoe
Quad-Zero, if my conclusion that GOP tax cuts and pro-business policies "led to current issues like wealth inequality" is "wrong!" as you put, then did cause the enormous wealth gap that formed after the Reagan Revolution? Please enlighten me.
Friday, July 4 Report this
0000
If you carefully read my last post, particularly the last paragraph, you’ll find that I’ve answered your question succinctly, reenjoe.
2 days ago Report this